Mary A. Gambardella

Mary brings decades of experience in helping clients comply with ever-changing labor laws and regulations, as well as in managing employment challenges such as sensitive terminations, sexual harassment, reductions in workforce, discrimination claims, and severance agreements. She is a proactive resource for clients seeking her counsel on a variety of human resource issues before they become a costly crisis, as well as a fierce advocate when crises arise.

Mary is Chair of the firm’s Labor, Employment and Benefits Department and regularly represents employers in state and federal court litigation, administrative and regulatory proceedings, and mediations and arbitrations. She handles all aspects of labor and employment law, including discrimination claims, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, wage/hour, and employment contract claims. She has handled complex, multi-plaintiff claims and class actions and has first-chaired dozens of bench and jury trials through to verdict.

Mary regularly assists clients in developing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with fluctuating regulations. She frequently conducts management and human resource personnel training, leads internal investigations, assists with wage audits, and defends clients under investigation by state or federal agencies, including departments of labor, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), state human rights commissions, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She has also handled Title IX and Clery Act matters.

Mary is the author of Employment Litigation (part of the Employment Law series published by the Law Journal Press) and is a frequent lecturer on a wide variety of employment law topics hosted by bar associations, human resource organizations, and Chambers of Commerce. She has an AV® Preeminent™ peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and she is recognized in Chambers USA and by Super Lawyers® in Connecticut.

Diversity is another passion of Mary’s. She is Co-chair of the Diversity Committee, for which she drafted the firm’s first Diversity Plan, and she is a member of the firm’s Women’s Committee. Mary launches and participates in a variety of diversity-related initiatives for the Firm.